This week’s Torah reading is the portion of ‘Ha’azinu’ and poetically depicts what will happen to the Jewish people until the end of days. It states what the ramifications on the Jews will be, if they transgress the covenant with Hashem and portrays how Hashem will punish the nations who wronged the Jewish people while in exile.

Ha’azinu is the forth out of the ten prophetic songs featured in the Tanach (Devarim 32:1-52), other examples of songs included in the Tanach is the song at the sea (Shemot 15:1-21), the song of ‘the praise of Miriam’ which was featured in Parshat Chukat (Bamidbar 21:17) and Adam reciting the first song in Gan Eden just after creation.

In this Parsha we learn the power of saying the word ‘amen’ after a blessing is made, as Moshe summoned the people to respond with praise of G-d whenever he mentioned G-d’s name (Shabbat 119b).

Moshe prefaced the anthem of ‘Ha’azinu with the lesson; ‘Whenever I mention Hashems Name, praise him by responding ‘amen.’’ Our sages derived from this verse that after every blessing recited in the Temple, the people were required to respond ‘blessed be the name of his glorious kingdom for ever and ever.’ We too observe the rule of ‘responding with a blessing’ whenever we hear a person reciting a blessing.

There is also the idea that an individual who responds with the word ‘amen’ to a blessing, is considered an even greater mitzvah than the person who recited the blessing! It’s such an easy Mitzvah!!!

The song has many verses to it; the song talks about how Moshe declared that the Torah is ‘Lifegiving like rain (Devarim 32:2),’ the song states that G-d’s work is perfect and all his ways are absolutely just; the song also enumerates of Hashems kindness to the Jewish people. Moshe prophesies that the Jews will sin and rebel against Hashem (Devarim 32:20); the song talks about the punishments that will befall the Jews if they don’t heed to the word of Torah; the song concludes with a comfort for the Jewish people and the divine promise that justice will be executed on their oppressors (Devarim 32:43).

The Torah reading continues with Moshe and the future leader, Yehoshua, teaching the song of Ha’azinu to the children of Israel (Devarim 32:44) and Moshe explaining how everything in the Torah is true. The reading concludes as Moshe ascends on to Mount Nevo to view the land of Israel (Devarim 32:49/ Sota 13b).

This parsha is the forth shortest in the five books of Torah as it only has fifty two verses.

The Haftorah for Parashat Haazinu is from the book of Samuel, featuring the song of David (Samuel II 22:1-51).

I hope you all have a fantastic Shabbat!! This Dvar Torah is dedicated to Ahuva Bat Chiriya Chaya, who has had a problem with her kidney, please everyone say prayers for her to make a full recovery and be very healthy!!